Daytona Curse
The Daytona Curse is a legend circulating the ARLA community. Until the Elite Series season opener moved to Texas in 2011, that race was held at the Daytona International Speedway. Kevin Monroe won the 2001 race in his debut, sparking a trend of first-time winners in the opener that continued through 2011, even with the relocation of the race. However, with a few exceptions, drivers who won their first race in the opener since 2001 have been "cursed" and have never been able to win another race. The streak of first time winners was snapped by Joseph Howard in 2012.
The curse isn't exclusive to the former season opener, as Tom Delgado had shown, with his inability to finish on the lead lap of any Daytona event until 2012. However he would break his curse by winning one of the Lake Afton Sprint races in 2014.
"Cursed" Drivers[edit | edit source]
Max Rentacar (1985) (retired after the 1985 season)
Harold McGee (2002)
Eric Engelhard (2003)
Peter Kreamer (2004) (He would later die in the 2012 Hanmore World Championships)
Ricky Navarro (2005)
Hamilton Porteau (2006) (although he has had moderate success in Formula Overdrive competition.)
Manuel Ortiz (2008) (Even though he did win the 2008 Smash Beer Shootout at Daytona the week before)
Marcos Leonard (2009) (there is some debate over whether or not Leonard has been "cursed", due to his success in the TM Master Cup Series)
Scott Morales (2010) (The curse extended to his disastrous TM Lights season, he was then killed 2 years later at Orange County Fair Speedway)
Barry MacIntyre (2013)
Rick Forest (2017)
Exceptions[edit | edit source]
Jeb Klinger won the first ever ARLA race at Daytona in 1973, and went on to score six more victories before he was seriously injured at Talladega in 1978. He came out of retirement from 2008-2010, but did not return to victory lane in his second stint.
Kevin Monroe has been unaffected by the curse, as he has scored victories since his Daytona win, along with a championship.
Harry Enola won the 2007 season opener in his debut, but he got his second victory in 2010 at Loudon.
Tom Delgado won the 2008 Twilight 100 and wouldn't win again until 2014.
Kasie Campbell won two races in 2013 and finished fifth in the championship in a joint bid with Todd Stater; however, she was unable to find a ride in the Elite Series in 2014.